Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Constantine blinked looking around the grand room he had appeared in. Lowering his lighter, he had just been about to light his latest fag, he started to look around.

“Feel free to light up, not going to hurt anybody but you here.”

Swinging around Constantine found himself staring at a form sprawled over a throne made of what looked like solid darkness for all that it kept flowing and moving, he relaxed recognizing the form, “Bloody hell luv. You ruddy spooked me.”

Jason, for all that he was in Red Hood’s armor he wasn’t a domino or his helmet, snorted, “Well considering how much work I had to put into setting up you could use a little spooking.”

Pulling his lighter up again Constantine lit his cigarette, “You could have called mate unlike your old man I’m always willing to help you and you and your lovely thighs. Always a pleasure to see.”

Jason rolled his eyes, “This is not time for your flirting.”

“Come one luv, it’s just a bit of fun.” Constantine came to a stop just in front of Jason’s throne, “Now what’s all this?”

Reaching up with a finger bearing a ring Constantine had never seen before, Jason tapped on something over his head and it flared black, the crown form rippling in shadows, “I’m the King of the Infinite Realms.”

Constantine froze, “Wha?”

“Oh, and I own most of your soul.” Holding a hand out to a side a ball of light appeared above his hand.

Constantine grabbed his chest, something inside him pulsing, “Blood hell! What the fuck is that?”

“Your soul. I went around to all the beings you’ve sold your soul to and took them.”

“Took them?” Constantine found himself staring at the small orb.

“Some I made deals for, some I threatened, some I fought for. Please avoid selling your soul. It was really difficult tracking all the pieces down… except for that demon named Jineoa or something like that. That was a fun fight.”

“Jinona? You fought him?”

“Yep, easy fight.”

“Jinona is stronger the older you are, you’re not that young.”

“Ah but I can age shift. I turned into my shift from the first time I almost froze to death as a kid and took him out. As I said, fun fight.”

“Age shift?” Constantine grasped at something he could get an explanation for.

“One of my,” Jason rolled, “Ghost abilities is the ability to change what age I am in my alternate form.”

“Ghost? Luv you're alive.”

“Not completely apparently. When I first came back, when I crawled out of my grave I was apparently a revenant.”

Constantine grimaced.

“Yeah, not exactly good but when Talia threw me into the Lazarus pits it brought me all the way back, kinda and essentially got ghost rabies apparently but got treatment for that. It was what caused the pit madness and during all the chaos of that situation I ended up King.”

“That is some hell of chaos to end up with you king, but your what, part ghost?”

Jason shrugged, “I’m Tun Status . Half human half ghost essentially. The one who is training me in the whole being half ectoplasmic entity calls the shift ‘going ghost’ which just sounds… wrong for me.”

“Maybe Revenant Shift instead?”

“Huh, that does sound better but we’re getting distracted.”

“Right luv, can you summarize things for me?”

“I’m the King of the Infinite Realm; I own most of your soul, so your my bitch basically.”

Constantine coughed as shock went through his system, dropping his cigarette.

Jason laughed, and gestured with his hand so that a line of darkness caught the cigarette and brought it back to Constantine, “You asked.”

“Right, thanks.” Constantine took the cigarette back and took a pull, “A little less summary this time, please.”

Jason rolled his eyes, “I’m King of the Infinite Realms and one of the first things I did was get all of your soul, that isn’t in you.”

“Why? I appreciate it, much rather you have it then the beings that did, but I notice you’re not giving it back.”

“Can’t with all the work I put into getting it if I just give it to you, we’d probably end up married or something,” Jason nodded to Constantine’s grimace, “So not doing that but I can use it as a form of payment.”

“For what?”

“The previous King swore to help me with being a king.”

Constantine grimaced, “And he didn’t follow through.”

“Oh, he tried, he just doesn’t actually know anything. He’s barely eighteen and had knowingly been king for a year. He’s basically been juggling emergencies and ignoring everything else.”

“So, you need someone who actually knows about the Realms to give you some knowledge about it. I’m sorry to say I don’t know as much as you need.”

“But you know enough to get me started.”

“Why don’t you ask your advisors? Surely, they have someone who can tutor you.”

“Yes, but anyone they advise is going to have an agenda, even if they don’t mean to. On the other hand, you are far enough away from the Realms but knowledgeable about them to get me a start.”

“I tell you all I can and I’ll get my soul back?”

“Some of it, you gave me a lot of work to get all of this.”

“What do you want for the rest? I’m not worried what you're going to do with it but I would like it back if I can get it.”

“I’m going to pay you to be an advisor. I’m going to need someone on the living side on my advisor board, and you I know will be straight with me. I am already sick of the Observants.”

“Oh yeah, those wankers would irritate you to no end. Alright, I'll be your teacher and advisor.”

Jason grinned, closing his hand Constantine’s soul disappeared and he reached out to shake on it.

Taking his hand Constantine shook, wheezing when Jason’s grip turned tight and was possibly the only thing helping him stay upright as something warmed in his chest, “What the bloody hell was that?”

“A sign on bonus. How’s it feel to have twice the amount of soul than you did five minutes ago.”

“Like the kick of a mule, a nice one somehow. Wow.”

Jason stood chuckling, still holding Constantine’s hand to keep him standing Jason smiled, “Let’s go to one of the meeting rooms and we can have some tea while you fill me in on the basics.”

Constantine nodded standing up completely under his own power, “A cuppa would be nice.”

“Come on then I got some leaves from Alfred.”

“Oh no need to bribe me further! Now what do you want to know first?”

Chapter Text

Jason looked up from the papers on his new desk, one Danny had not even been aware the King of the Infinite Realms had. Having the past King of the Infinite Realms available for help was proving less than helpful but at least who Jason could go to for help. "Ah, Clockwork. I'm glad you could make it."

"It was time."

Jason rolled his eyes it seemed he was going to be dealing with a lot of time nonsense, "Right you already know all of this but you are officially part of the King's Cabinet and are thus one of my and eventually Danny's advisors. You're in charge of two things. One advising the king on ways to make sure the timeline doesn't end up fucked or going in a bad direction. Does that sound good?"

"Yes."

"Then second you are in charge of going through all the backed-up paperwork and determining what I need to deal with now, within the week, month, three months, six months, year and what needs to wait for Danny as well as throwing out anything that needs to be thrown out. You good with that?"

Clockwork nodded before smiling, "It will be done as soon as time permits."

Jason nodded in thanks, "Alright you can poof out or whatever then." Ignoring the other he started reading the form he had been reading before Clockwork showed up. 

His head jerked up as a filing cabinet appeared by the wall and a red folder appeared on his desk, it was not a small file.

Looking up at the grinning Clockwork he sighed, "Thank you. I'll be in touch." He frowned looking from the form he was going through to the folder, "Can I finish this form first before the folder or move to the folder right away?"

"You can finish that form. Is that all?"

Jason glared at him, "Yes, you know it is."

With another grin Clockwork disappeared leaving an overworked and now even more behind Jason to wallow in his paperwork hell.

Chapter Text

Jason looked up from the form in his hand at the two hopeful-looking ghosts. They had introduced themselves as Box Ghost and Lunch Lady and were floating in front of him holding hands. "Right the paperwork seems to be in order so you want to have a neverborn?"

Lunch Lady nodded, "Very much sire."

Jason tapped what looked like a crystal on the arm of his throne was actually a smart speaker phone, "Call Pandora."

A few moments later Pandora's voice come over the crystal, "How may I be of help my liege?"

"Is a neverborn like a baby ghost that was never alive?"

"Yes."

"What does a neverborn need after uh, forming?"

"At least one but preferably two ectoplasmic entitles that will provide ectoplasm specifically to be absorbed by the neverborns core as they will not be able to absorb the natural ectoplasm of the realm for a time."

"How long?"

"It depends on the amount of ectoplasm the parents of the neverborn can supply. Usually one to two hundred years but it can take longer, or shorter."

"So, if a couple comes to me about having a neverborn what do I do? I mean do I just say yes and it's all good."

"No. The ectoplasmic entities wishing for the neverborn will offer up what ectoplasm they have stored for the creation and offer it. You will need to pull on the ectoplasm of the Infinite Realms to merge the two, or more, offerings and then coat the core as it forms. Once it is fully formed you will pass the core to the parents and they will hold it until it develops its own form. This last portion can take sometimes so often it's best to do the forming in a room the parents can stay in for some time."

"How long is some time?"

"The weaker the parents the longer it will take but within a week to a year."

"Right. Thank you, Pandora."

"Anytime my liege." With that the call ended.

Jason turned his attention fully back to the couple, "Alright how long have you known each other?"
"Over fifty decades," Box Ghost answered. 

"How long have you been together?"

"Over thirty decades."

"Is there ghost marriage and if are you?" 

Lunch Lady frowned, "There is, but we are not."

"Why not?" Jason carefully kept his voice non-judgmental, and made sure to project calm and curiosity as he asked the questions so the pair would not think he was looking for reasons to say no. Even though he kind of was. He was pretty sure he was going to say yes but he needed to know the neverborn would have a good home.

"You declared only one form per group for the next decade or you declare otherwise."

"Okay, I give you my permission to you Lunch Lady and you Box Ghost to have a neverborn. How long will do you think it will be until you’re ready to start the process?"

"We're ready." The two answered together.

Jason blinked, "Well let's find a room for you two to stay in during the process then." Standing he sent out a shadow to summon one of the castles servants, who all answered to the name Butter. If he hadn't seen more than one at the same time he would swear there was only one Butter and he just changed his hats, the only thing that different between the Butters.

This time it was Top Hat Butter that appeared. Jason was pretty sure he was the like head Butter but he wasn't sure. Butter said something in a weird oozing bubbly noise that he somehow knew meant he was asking what he needed.

"A room for these two to stay in while a neverborn stabilizes."

Top Hat Butter nodded and turned to lead them further into the castle, quickly entering an empty room. Right ghosts didn't need furniture.

Jason turned to the pair clapping his hands together, "Alright bring out the ectoplasm so I can merge it and let you guys focus on helping the core develop a form."

Eagerly the two held out glowing balls of ectoplasm that somehow Jason knew was unlike any he had sensed before.

Motioning for them to push the two balls together Jason carefully started to pull on the ectoplasm of the Realms and started to, well it felt a bit like glue goo together but somehow it worked before he coated the ball in a shell around the merging ectoplasm. At some point the ball had ended up floating above his hands and he pushed it back to the pair, "There, early congratulations."

The two ghosts had no attention for anything than the ball so Jason carefully left the room before summoning a skeleton guard. "Nobody goes in until they come out.

The skeleton nodded and Jason left it as he headed back to his throne room for the next pension, he had time for a few more he could go crash before patrol. Hopefully they were simpler than that was.

He definitely needs to put down how neverborns are created on his notes for Danny for when he took back over. Unlike his predecessor he'd actually have an idea of what needed to be taught to a new ruler.

Chapter Text

Sweet Baby Clockwork. Jazz thought as she saw the man that was waiting on the other side of the portal. Danny had been right about her type, at least physically and Ancients help her he was standing next to a beautiful bike.

Danny dashed out of the portal from behind her. She had had to remind him that travel by portal was much easier on her wallet than driving before he'd come and pick her up but he did. She wasn't sure why they were exciting the portal outside the city and not in Danny's apartment. They were at the City's welcome sign.

The man, King she assumed from what Danny had said, smiled, "Hello Ms. Nightgale. Welcome to Gotham."

Jasmine King hard a nice ring to it, no stop, this was Danny's suspicious friend not a hot guy in a bar! She smiled back holding out her hand, "Call me Jazz."

There was mischief in his eyes as he turned the shake into a kiss on her hand, "Jason, at your service."

Before her face could heat up to far Danny shoved himself between them, "No! I told you no flirting with my sister!"

Jason chuckled a lovely deep sound that rumbled from his chest, before turned to the Welcome to Gotham sign, "Lady Gotham please hear my request that you welcome Jasmine Nightgale into your grounds as my guest."

Jazz froze as a chill ran up her, everything really. Something big, something powerful was looking at her. She could feel their attention. It felt a good deal like the first time she had met Pandora and she was determining if she would consider Jazz worthy of her attention. She stay tensed even as the attention left.

"[Be Welcome]" A voice like bird calls and screeching tires came from no where and everywhere.

Jason grinned, "Good you shouldn't have the issues most outsiders have to deal with now."

She slowly untensed, "Outsiders?"

"Gotham isn't the most welcoming of people from outside Gotham visiting, especially if they are only planning on staying for a few hours. She hates tourists. But now she knows your well, not with me, but that gist so you'll be good, well once we get to Casper's."

She narrowed her eyes, "Casper?" That was a rather telling nickname if someone was in on the know of something her brother should not have revealed.

"Let's save further introductions and explanations until we are not in the open. Danny said you were good with bikes so are you good with riding with me there? Best way to get you through the necessary bits of my territory, to get Gotham familiar with you, and get to Danny's but I can figure out a car if I need to."

"The bike is fine," She glared at her brother who was giggling knowing she was more than fine with getting on a bike like that, "But your territory?"

Jason swung himself onto his bike pulling on a red helmet and offering a black one to her, "Explanations at Danny's."

His voice was different, not muffled but definitely different now that he was wearing the helmet, maybe a speaker?

Frowning, she accepted the helmet and put it on. Danny hadn't looked surprised wanted to wait so she would hold onto her curiosity for now. 

"Wow," Jazz glanced around the inside of the helmet, "This is really high tech."

Jason shrugged as she climbed on, his voice now came over the speaker in the helmet sounding normal. "It's my only non-Hood helmet I have right now. My siblings destroyed my normal spares. Now hold on tight, Gotham traffic is different from anything else you have experienced before."

With that Jazz found herself grabbing onto Jason as he went from zero to what felt like sixty in seconds. Well at least the trip should be fast?

Chapter Text

Jazz toed off her shoes frowning, Danny had introduced her to his friend who lived near the stairwell and elevator. He had seemed normal enough, if a little rough, when he was talking with Danny at least. But he had, not exactly tensed but seemed different when he saw the helmet in Jason's hands. The way he had said boss almost sounded like a question. Why had he relaxed when Jason told him that his other helmet was broken? Ugh she needed to stop psychoanalyzing everything it was probably nothing.

"Jazz!" Danny appeared next to her making her jump, "Jason made tacos! His cooking is the best ever! And it hasn't ever attacked either of us!"

She smiled, they really did have some of the weirdest worries, no one else was worried that their dinner or well lunch would get up and attack them if they didn't eat fast enough, "Explanations over lunch then?"

"Yep! He has some questions for you to but he'll let you go first."

She blinked, why would Danny's friend have questions for her? Why was he making them lunch even?

She kept her questions to herself as she sat at the table and everyone got a plate of food. She decided to go with the first question she had from what had happened today. "Your territory?" They had zipped through countless ally ways and she was pretty sure they had gone in at least one circle before getting to Danny's apartment.

Jason nodded, "Yeah Crime Alley, the Narrows and a good amount of the neighborhood around them are mine." He sighed, "I'm guessing Danny didn't tell you anything about me?"

She nodded, the only things she knew was that he last name was King.

"Right I'll just go for the full into then, I'm Jason al Ghul-"

Danny cut him off, "I thought it was Todd-Wayne?"

Jazz frowned, she had thought it was King and if it wasn't where did the nickname Kingie come from?

Jason rubbed his forehead, "Remember the assassins?"

That was a rather alarming statement.

"The ninjas?" Danny countered.

"They prefer assassins, but they come from me being part of the al Ghul family."

"Why?" Danny again cut him off.

"Because the League of Assassins is led by Ra's al Ghul and his family is basically royalty in the league."

"Why didn't you say your name was al Ghul-Wayne when you introduced yourself?"

"Ra's isn't exactly happy that Talia, his daughter, adopted me so I mostly don't bring it up. So I don't have to deal with him being pissy about it, but with the assassins claiming loyalty to me because I'm part of the al Ghul family I have to suck it up and deal with Ra's getting pissy. Make sense?"

Danny nodded and Jazz nodded slowly. More information would be helpful but she could ask follow up questions later.

"Right," Jason tried to continue, "My name is Jason al Ghul-Wayne."

Danny interrupted again, as she tried to place the second part of the name, it sounded familiar, "Where did the Todd go?"

"I wasn't going to go by al Ghul-Todd-Wayne, al Ghul-Wayne is long enough and it matches my youngest brother. I decided to go with my two adoptive names as they might not be the best of parents but they did a lot more than that fucker ever did, but anyways the territory bit is because I'm Red Hood."

She blinked, "The Vigilante Crime Lord?"

"Yep."

"Should you be telling me your name then?"

"I know you can keep a secret ID private." He gestured at Danny.

She started to tense, did Jason know that Danny was a ghost, or half ghost or even horribly that he was the ghost king? How could her brother be so calm with a vigilante crime lord knowing about Phantom?

Before she could ask Danny continued, "Don't forget the rest!"

"Rest?" Jason blinked at Danny, "What else do I need to tell her?"

"That your Gotham's Murder Bird, her prince, wielder of the All-Blades, bearer of the Crown of Shadows and the Ring of Justice, and King of the Infinite Realms!"

Jazz's eyes shot to Danny, "He's the WHAT?"

Danny blinked at her confused while Jason groaned, "Danny, did you perhaps, forget to tell your sister that you got dethroned and I wanted to talk to her because she has to be more useful than you in explaining the shit I need to know about being a halfa and King of the Infinite Realms beyond the powers?"

Looking between the two irritated faces he tried to smile, "Oops?"

Chapter Text

Jason hummed, "So I can expect a bunch of fight requests as ghosts generally fight each other for fun and as a way to hang out basically."

Jazz nodded, "You just need to make sure they don't accidentally challenge you for the crown. It will basically be safer to just always let the other person fire off the first shot."

"Not my preference but okay, and I have another two months before that happens as new ghosts get a three month grace period."

"They are supposed to."

"I didn't get it," Danny grumbled from where he was hunched over an assignment.

Jazz rolled her eyes, "They thought you had been around longer because of your power levels and they did apologize and give you the two months they owed you after you got coronated."

Danny nodded but didn't look happy about it.

"Well that's everything I can think of, I'll give you my number if you have questions later but what questions do you have now?"

"I could use some insight you might on some of Danny's allies, and enemies. He wasn't the most informed when I tried to get answers out of him."

"I'm not sure how much help I can be but I'll try and I might be able to rephrase questions so Danny will remember what he should tell you."

Jason nodded, "Sounds good. Alright so I'm working on setting up an advisory panel that I can go to for advice and delegate some of the tasks I need done but don't specifically need to be done by me."

Danny blinked up from his homework, "Delegate?"

"Even a full ghost who devoted all of his time to the crown wouldn't be able to keep up with everything and I don't have that sort of time so delegation is key. For example, I made Frostbite the Minister of Health so anything that has to deal with report of sickness or any sort of health issue or concerns will go to him. He'll then go through it and present what's important to me, along with advice or plans on what should or could be done. Then I'll either okay it and he will see to whatever plan is decided on gets done. If I don't okay it I'll talk with him until we get a plan to go with."

Jazz tilted her head to the side, "Have you requited anyone else?"
"Well obviously I have Fright Knight as the Minister of the Military and [loa name] is the Minister of Intelligence with the League of Assassins working for him. Fright Knight still needs to pick lieutenants to act as his defense advisor and offence advisor, but he's working on it. Then Clockwork is the Minister of Time."

Danny blinked, "You requited Clockwork to work for you?"

"He's in charge of advice to not fuck up the time stream and old paperwork sorting as his powers let him know what needs to be done now versus later."

"That makes a lot of sense," Jazz hummed, "Anyone else?"

"I'm thinking of offering Pandora the position as my second."

Danny frowned, "Second?"

"The person in charge if I'm not available and an urgent matter comes up. She and anyone she requites would be in charge of going through all the paper work and either dealing with it or summarizing it for my review.""

"She is very trustworthy. I think she'd be a great fit if she agrees."

"I sure hope she says yes. Theres a lot of backlog and even current stuff I can't keep with, but that's all I have for now. Any ideas?"

Danny tapped his pencil on the table, "Walker runs the prison so you might want to requit him, although you probably need to go through the rules he enforces and the sentences that each rule break gets. I'm pretty sure he inverted some of the rules himself."

"Or," Jazz countered, "They are left over from [PD] and I wouldn't expect those to be fair."

Jason rubbed his forehead, "Alright I'll requit him as the Minister of Justice and ask him if there's any laws, or you called them rules, so rules that should be removed. That will show a good bit about his character. Then I'll have Ghostwriter make up a form for people to request a change, removal or addition of a law, rule whatever." Jason waved his hand, "I'm going to make the new set laws as that makes more sense and gives me a clear change between the old rules and the laws I have updated them to.  I'll have to make it clear to Walker that I expect him to bring me all the law ideas until I get a feeling on how he is about letting rules go and thus the rules he can punish, change."

Jazz nodded, "That makes sense, but I can't think of anything else, ghost or roles, but I can keep thinking about it and give you any ideas that I might come up with."

"That would be appreciated," Jason glanced at his watch, "Well time flew, I say we order pizza for dinner and then I'll be off to do my Red Hood duties." He looked to Danny, "I'd see you next week during our lesson time then."

The pair nodded agreeing and soon they were enjoying pizza and talking of much lighter topics before Jason wished them a good night and they wished him good luck.

Chapter Text

Zatanna looked from Red Hood to Constantine, "Constantine why did you want us to get Red Hood here? Trigon is a Justice League threat not one for a single vigilante," She gave Red Hood a strained smiled, "No offense."

"None taken," Jason shrugged, "I'm not sure why Constantine called me either. Intergalactic threats aren't exactly my wheelhouse."

Constantine grinned around his cigarette, "Trigon is a resident of the Infinite Realms and I'm pretty sure it's illegal for someone from the Infinite Realms to attack the mortal reality."

Jason frowned, "I need to call someone." Before anyone could respond he thought to himself, 'Revenant Shift.' Unlike Danny he wasn't going to announce his change to everyone present, hopefully he'd eventually not need the activation phrase at all. Scowling down at his form, he was in his League of Assassins robes but he didn't have time to focus on changing his form so he pulled out his communication crystal, "Walker."

"Yes sire?" Came from the crystal causing several people to startle.

"Attacking the mortal realm is illegal, right?" Narrowing his eyes he tried to get his mask to at least change into a domino, changing parts of outfits was easier than trying to get into the right age.

"It is. Is someone breaking the rules?"

"Trigon is. So as the King of the Infinite Realms I'm responsible for arresting him?"

"Trigon! So that's where he went, the mortal realm! We've been searching all of the Infinite Realms for him after he escaped from jail."

Jason rubbed his forehead over his domino, knocking his hood back, "The next time someone of Trigon's power level breaks out of jail tell me immediately. In fact, if there’s any prison break inform me as soon as possible."

"As you command. I will send some men to help detain the miscreant!"

Putting the crystal away Jason turned to the surprised people around him and smiling Constantine, "Right, apparently this is my wheelhouse. So where is he?"

A teleportation spell later he was in front of Trigon, but behind the heroes currently fighting him.

Superman noticed them first, "Zatanna did you find a banishing spell?"

Constantine grinned, "Better, we got the King of the Infinite Realms!

Floating up a few feet in the air and forwards, so he was in front of most of the heroes, Jason bellowed, using his powers to add to the volume and add an odd ring. He didn't want to slip into Infinite Realms speech, especially not to the point Gotham had, but he knew his voice would rub people the wrong way, just make them weirdly uncomfortable for no reason they could figure out. He knew it worked as he had tested it on his siblings, multiple times. "TRIGON! GET DOWN HERE!"

Trigon's head snapped towards him, "Who Dares Command Me? I Am Trigon, Destroyer Of Worlds!"

Jason did not jump when Fright Knight appeared beside him, he came really close but didn't actually jump, "You speak to the High King of the Infinite Realms! His majesty Red Hood bearer of the Crown of Shadows and the Ring of Justice!"

Several jaws dropped as Trigon seemed to shift in place, uneasy, "The High King Is Phantom The Untried Youth, Who Does Not Wield His Power Well Enough To Rival Me."

"Former High King Phantom was defeated in one to one combat and defeated by the High King Red Hood!"

"Red Hood Is Mortal, A Human."

Superman blinked, "You know who Red Hood is?"

Trigon scowled at him, "He Is One Of My Daughter's Lover's Former Partners."

Jason tilted his head the side, "Did you invade the mortal realm to find out who your daughter is dating? They've only been dating for three days!"

"It Is Merely A Coincidence! But I Did Determine She Is... Adequate To Date My Daughter."

"One your daughter's girl friend is a catch; they both are lucky to have each other and two if all you really wanted to do is attempt to be a good father I'm willing to come to an agreement. If you agree to go back to jail in the Infinite Realms, I won't add jail time for this, only this time."

Green Arrow glared, "He needs to be punished for attacking Earth!"

"Look," Jason sighed, "I'm trying to bring this to a peaceful conclusion and he hasn't even wrecked any buildings or injured anyone."

Trigon growled, "I Will Not Be Commanded."

"As your king I literally could but I'm not. Look agree to go back to jail and serve out your sentence and I won't have any time added for escaping or attacking the mortal realm. I will also figure out a way to get your daughter visitation rights so she can just tell you about changes in her life."

Trigon narrowed his eyes, "And If I Refuse?"

"I pull out the All Blades that will have their powers multiplied by the Crown of Shadows and Ring of Rage and see how you like them."

There was a pause as everyone watched Trigon considered Red Hood's offer. "I Accept Your Offer. I Expect My Daughter's Visit Tomorrow."

"Do you have any idea how much paperwork your escape is causing? Within in the year."

"The Week. You Have Pandora And Hers Assisting You."

"Month and you leave now."

Constantine looked over at Red Hood as the rest of the heroes freaked out about Trigon just calmly going through the portal Red Hood had created. Fright Knight was following Trigon with a few of the prison guards that had shown up, “Are you sure you convince Raven to visit him? I mean she doesn’t exactly have the best relationship with him.”

“I know but she and Kori owe me. I was hoping to save the favor for something fun but keeping the Infinite Realms running somewhat smoothly is worth it. I can always offer to make them their anniversary meals or something.”

“Anniversary meals?”

“Their first date was a home cooked meal that Kori invited Raven to. Kori can’t cook. I went to her place cooked a full three course meal for her and then left the two to it. Got a big thank you from the both of them the next day and the news that they were officially dating so I need to go call them and figure out when Raven is free.”

Zatanna frowned, “I thought you said there was paperwork you needed to do before she could visit.”

“That paperwork is all on Walker as the Minister of Justice. I’ll probably draw up the laws for visitations as he’s going to be busy with getting everything from the jail break straightened out, and reported to me but it shouldn’t take much. Plan to basically look at what is the law for visitation in the mortal realm in a couple states and countries and rearrange them for something that will work for the Infinite Realms.”

Constantine lit up a new cigarette, “Is that something you’re doing with a lot of laws? Looking into what works in the mortal realm and applying them in the Infinite Realms?”

Red Hood nodded, “Not for everything but it does help with some laws. Now I’m going back to bed, make me a portal so I can go home.”

Zatanna quickly pulled up a portal and allowed Red Hood to leave before anyone could think to interrogate him.

Pulling off his gear Jason face planted in the bed and was out.

Chapter Text

Jason smiled as he toed off his shoes, standing just inside the apartment of Pamela Ivy, Harley Quinn and Selina Kyle, "Pam I owe you one."

She blinked as Jason hung up his jacket before carefully stepping over one of Selina's cats, "Why? I don't mind but I'd like to know why."

"I had this idiot come and attack me in the middle of my castle garden area, where I was practicing katas with the All Blades in, and he's basically a plant monster. He was attacking with vines and stuff like that and if it wasn't for all the practice I had with you in the kid I would have had to hurt the idiot that attacked me while I had the All Blades out."

Harley peaked out from her office, "Aren't those the glowing swords that banish evil?"

Jason nodded, "They are also effective against basically anyone who resides in the Infinite Realms as they are considered outsiders that should be allowed in the mortal realm."

Pam frowned, "Why was it a problem then, you said you were in your castle which is in the Infinite Realms."

"The blades don't care if I'm in the Infinite Realms or not, they just care about what they consider to be evil and demons and such."

Harley tilted her head to the side, "Can they hurt you know?"

"No, they are made from my soul so I'm completely immune to them. Well sort of. If I turn evil they will consume my soul but if I stab myself with one it just phases through me."

Selina looked up from the couch, "Who attacked you?"

"Goes by Undergrowth. He's one of the super powerful ghosts in the Infinite Realms so I was basically wiping the floor with him which was a big reputation boost and the reason I was able to do that without like maiming him was because of all the practice I had fighting you back in the day. I mean he really wasn't ready for someone who knew how to fight vines and the other stuff he pulled. You were more of a challenge when I first started as Robin than he was. My only issue was that I'm bigger now although we have squared off a few times since I got back so I had a little practice with being my current size."

Pam hummed, "When the city was contemplating canceling the recycling program?"

"Yep. Which they were asking for you to get pissed with that. I have recycling bins near all of the apartments I own and near stores and such that I offer protection to."

"You can and bottle buy back recycling center is very nice as well. Crime Alley at least isn't hurting nature, it's the cleanest part of the city for garbage and recycling."

Selina stood stretching her back out, "It is very impressive that your territory is some of the cleanest parts of Gotham when that's where the poorest live so packed in so tightly."

Jason shrugged, "Garbage on the street and such is just one of the reasons that people in Crime Alley and my other territories got sick more often than in other parts of Gotham. By getting a cleaning crew up and running there has been a decrease in how often people get sick. I'm just looking after my people."

"There is nothing just about it."

Pam nodded, "You are more involved in keeping Crime Alley and your other territories good and improving than anyone else is for any other part of Gotham. I mean you are the only one reaching out to me about putting in trees in the sidewalks so there is fresh food and just plants present which is good for your peoples mental health."

Jason blushed, shrugging not comfortable with all the praise.

Harley smiled, "Alright you're here for your appointment so let’s go to my office so we can start."

Pam hummed, "And maybe you can stay after that and make us dinner in exchange for that favor?"

"I do have time, order up the ingredients for whatever you want and I'll make it for you guys."

Selina grinned, "We will, and enough that you can join us. You haven't told us anything about this whole Ghost King thing, you have to spill the gossip."

Jason chuckled, "Alright I don't have anything to do that I can't push off so yeah after the session I'll make dinner and tell you guys about all the crazy shit that has happened."

As the two disappeared into Harley's sound proofed office Selina and Pamela started debating what to have for dinner. Selina really wanted fish but Pamela was leaning more towards a vegetarian dish.

Chapter Text

Jason kicked his feet back and forth as he sat on his throne, something he only allowed himself to do in his younger shifts. Today he seemed to be stuck as Robin, "Ms. Mclain, how can I help you? Your form mentioned a concert?"

Ember grimaced, "Just Ember," after a moment she added, "Please."

"Alright Ember. How can I help you with your concert? Do you need a location or?"

"I need to have it in the moral realm. I gain power by mortals chanting my names. When I'm singing it's easier to absorb the energy. It's been a while since I've been able to get into the mortal realm and it's not an attack. I just absorb some of the energy they expend chanting, which is similar in amount to what they would normally expend at a concert."

Jason drummed his fingers on his throne, "How many songs can you play?"

"I have several hundred but I can get a lot of power from a specific song."

"Could you do two separate one hour performances? Like one on a Saturday and then one on Sunday? The Sunday one would likely be earlier in the day than the Saturday performance, possibly around five. I'd want them to be different songs but you could repeat the power one."

Ember was staring at him, "Yes?"

"Wonderful," Jason clapped his hands as his form shifted to that of his current age, finally. "I have four bands that are just starting up and none of them have enough experience, or songs, to mainline. If I have two bands open for you each night they'll be able to get experience in a real concert situation as you would be then preforming for an hour."

"That is a little long, normally there's only one opening band."

"Eh, I'll stretch it a bit but for Crime Alley's bands first concert that will be fine."
"You really want me to headliner for two days?"

"I want to give the four bands a real concert to see how they feel about it but four new bands wouldn't get to much of a turn out, but a concert headlines by a ghost? People will love that."

"Really?"

Jason nodded, "Especially in Gotham. Now do you have any days that won't work for you in the next three months?"

Ember shifted uneasy before quietly saying, "September thirteenth."

Recognizing a land mine when he heard one Jason didn't even pause as he continued. "Would you be willing to come out the weekend before to give some tips and advice to the new bands? I know you getting advise from a professional could really help their confidence levels."

Ember lit up, literally he hair flaring higher and her ponytail growing longer, "You think they'd want advise from me?"

Jason nodded, he was pretty sure Joseph would except advice from a turtle at this point but he didn't mention that, "Let me looking into their schedules and I'll get back to you with dates once they are determined. So go work on picking out which songs to use."

Ember squealed, "I have to tell Skulker!" Before shooting from the room, only to stick her head back with a quick, "Ancients smile on you." Before truly leaving the room.

Jason chuckled before remembering Skulker's request. He couldn't let the man hunt Danny in Gotham or really anywhere and he really couldn't play target himself so giving Skulker a chance to hunt something was still. Jason blinked before pulling out his phone to shoot Tim a question. His Titans group had a paintball competition coming up and they were feral enough that including a ghost would probably be considered fun. 

As he waited for a response to his text Jason waved to have the next applicant come into the room.

Chapter Text

Tim blinked up at the ceiling of his bedroom. He turned his head to look at the clock next to his bed. He had slept for an entire eight hours, without a single nightmare. He hadn’t slept this well in… he blinked trying to think of a time he had slept this well, “What the fuck?”

“Greetings Brother of Ghost King Red Hood. I am Nocturn.” A form of darkness with lights like stars all over its form. It looked like the night sky, or what it looked like past the clouds, and smog of Gotham. Its head was a full-face mask with ram’s horns coming from his head.

Nocturn didn’t react as Tim stood from the bed before speaking. “It seems you have me at a disadvantage. You know Hood is my brother but I know nothing about you.”

“I am one of the ghosts that most refer to as an ancient. I have power over sleep and dreams.”

“You’re why I had what was probably the best sleep of my life.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I wish to be on the king’s council but unlike the other ancients my expertise does not lend to any specific type of advising. By easing your sleep, I hope to show I can aid him and his family.”

“You're willing to ease our sleep in exchange for being on Jason’s council?”

“I would not be able to aid every night.”

Tim hummed, “Even a guaranteed night once a month would be good for our mental health. I’ll talk to my brother on your behalf.”

Nocturn bowed his head in thanks before fading from sight.

Tim hummed, well breakfast and then he’d call Jason.

Chapter Text

Jason sat on his throne, leaning on his hand and looking at Nocturn who he had summoned to talk. He was in his ghost form and currently his form was from when he was with the League of Assassins. Hopefully his voice wouldn’t break, “You searched out my brother when he was at his most vulnerable and used your powers on him.”

“I did.”

“Yet he was the one to petition for you to be added to my council.”

Nocturn nodded.

“What exactly did you do to him?”

“I am the ghost of sleep and dreams. I can make even the most troubled of thoughts fade into peaceful slumber. I can create or prevent dreams. For your brother I soothed his mind so he would slumber, aided him in reaching the most restful levels of sleep and banished a fair number of nightmares that tried to befall him.”

Jason tilted his head to the side, “Eight hours of dreamless sleep.”

“Sleep without nightmares,” Nocturn corrected, “He did have a few positive dreams that brought him happiness so I let them be.”

“Could you tell what they were?”

“I could have but I did not. Merely monitored the emotions so they would stay positive.”

“And you’re willing to do this again?”

“I would advise against constant use as it might inhibit ones ability to sleep without my assistance.”

“Could you do it for others?”

“Yes.”

“I’m willing to place you on my council if we come to an agreement.”

“Of course, what do you wish?”

“Once every three weeks you will give each member of my family a period of eight to ten hours of nightmare-less sleep. The only exception being the all-hands-on deck alarm, then you are to wake them.”

“I agree.”

“Alright you’re the Minister of Sleep, see Pandora about when the next council meeting is. I’ll have a meeting set up by then for you to come meet everyone so that you can set up a way to contact each other.”

Bowing Nocturn turned and left to find Pandora. As soon as he had left Jason gestured for the first petitioner to be allowed in.